Lubricating apparatus



Oct. 28, 1952 c BERRY 2,615,442

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1949 H 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 FIG. .1.

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Patented Oct. 28, 1952 LUBRICATING APPARATUS Clarence T. Berry, Augusta, Wis.; Orofino Berry administratrix of said Clarence T. Berry, de-

ceased Application July 26, 1949, Serial No. 106,937

(Cl.v123196) 3 Claims. 1 This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for. maintaining a constant correct level of lubricating oil in the crankcase of an internal provide apparatus of the above indicated character in which the oil supply reservoir has a float operated switch operable automatically to warn the operator of theengine whenever the reservoir requires refilling with oil.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein merely for purposes of illustration, a specific embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail. t In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an internal com-c bustion engine showing lubricating apparatus installed thereon in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken through the vacuum operated cut-off valve.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through the reservoir tank.

Figures 4 and 5 are horizontal sections'taken through Figure 3 on the lines i4 and 55, re-

spectively; and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the engine crankcase, partly broken away to show installation of the oil and air pipes therein, through the usual oil measuring stick opening thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated device comprises the oil reservoir tank 9 suitably supported at the side of the upper part of the associated internal combustion engine In, on a level above the crankcase l l thereof and preferably conveniently near the intake manifold l2; and the vacuum or suction operated cutofi' valve I4 I The reservoir tank 9 is preferably of upright cylindrical form having a removal top i5. Traversing the top l5 at one side is the suction or ing suction pipe 2|, with itslower arm 22 communicating with the interior of the tank. The lower arm 22 terminates in a reduced jetpassage 23. c

At the opposite side of the topvi5 is a filling tube '24 having a removable plug 25, and the upper end of the. air pipe 26 is connected in com-. munication with the filling tube 2i, andhence with the interior of the tank 9, by means of a fitting 21. v

A float guide rod 28 is axially threaded through the top I5 and bottom 29 of the tank with retaining nuts 30, 30 at the opposite ends. An annular hollow fioat 3| has upwardly angulated spokes32 secured to the upper end of a tubular float guide 33, loosely slidable on the lower part of the rod 28. A transverse pin 34 on the lower partof the rod 28 works at opposite ends in short vertical slots 35, 35 inopposite sides of the guide. 33 to limit vertical movement of the float and prevent it from rotating. .In its-depressed position, wherein the level 36 of oil in the tank 9 is at anextreme low, requiring refilling of the tank with oil, the float 3'! is close to the tank bottom 29.

An ear 38 on'one side of the upper part-of the float guide 33 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 39 having its upper end pivotally connected to the depressed end of a lever 40, pivoted at Lil intermediate its ends on thesplit bracket 42. -The bracket 42 involves the main clamp element to which the lever iilis pivoted .upon opposite sides of the upper part of the rod 28 by the bolt 45. The elevated end of the lever 69 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a rod 46 having on its upper end a contact head 48 working like a piston in the tubular switch housing 69 mounted in an opening in'the tank top l5 between the suction fitting I6 and the float guide rod 23. A pigtail l! grounds the rodAB to the top l5 as indicated at 41'. Mounted inthe upper end of the housing 49 is an insulated plug contact 50, to which the hot wire 5 I of an alarm circuit isconnected which'includes a' visual or vacuum jet fitting l5 comprising the T H, having its upper arm l8 connected by the suction supply pipe i=9 to the engine intake manifold I2, its middle arm 20 connected to the valve operat- 58 whereby the alarm 52 is in constant operation,

until the switch 53 is opened or the supply of oil in the tank '9 is raised above the low mark-"by introducing additional oil through the filling pipe 24.

within the engine crankcase II at such an elevated level that when the crankcase oil level is normal, as indicated at 56, the oil will close the air pipe and thereby prevent the tank 9 from beingsupplied with outside air. When the oil level falls in the crankcase the air pipe 26 is opened and permits outside air to enter the tank 9 and break the vacuum therein.

The bottom 29 of the tank 9 has a depending discharge nipple 57 connected with the upper end of a tube 59 whose lower end is supportably connected by a fitting 60, in communication with a first vertical passage 6| in the body 62 of the suction operated cut-01f valve M.

The valve body 62 includes a horizontal passage 63 at right angles to the first vertical passage Bl. A gland 64 is threaded in the passage 63, through which is slidably fitted a needle valve 65, arranged to engage and close a seat 65, in its inward position. The seat is in the form of a reduced passage providing communication be,- tween the passages GI and B3, and hence with a second vertical passage 6'! entering the lower side of the passage 63 and connected by a fitting 68 with the upper end of the oil feeding pipe 69 whose lower end is positioned at a low level in 'the crankcase below the lower end of the air pipe 26.

The needle valve 65 is operated toward the left in Figure 2, that is to open position by suction applied at the left hand side of the diaphragm 10, to which the needle valve is connected by an articulated link ll, within a housing 72, mounted on a bracket 13 secured by screws 14 to the valve body 62. The left hand side of the housing 12 is connected to the lower end ofthe suction pipe 2! by a fitting 15.

As shown in Figure 6, the lower portions of the air and oil feeding pipes 26 and 69 may be assembled in a tubular sheath 1B and together insertedinto operative position in the crankcase ll through the oil measuring stick opening 11 provided therein. In this case the lower end of thesheath 16 is open to the lower end of the oil feeding pipe 69 and has a side opening 18 at the proper level communicating with the lower end of the air pipe.

In operation, and with the engine l running, and with the tank 9 filled above its low level with oil, should the level of the crankcase oil drop below normal, the vacuum produced in the tank 9 through the pipe I9 is broken by the air entering it through the exposed lower end of the air pipe-'26. The jet 23 is so proportioned that more air enters the tank 9 through the pipe 26 than the engine suction can draw off. As a result the needle valve 65 is kept open by suction on the diaphragm while the engine is running so that oil flows through the valve [4 by gravity to raise the level in the crankcase until the crankcase oil closes off the lower end of the air pipe 26 and thereby shuts off the gravity of oil from the tank 9. When then the engine is shut off the diaphragm 10 closes the valve l4 thereby completely shutting off flow of oil to the crankcase.

What is claimed is:

' 1. In a device for supplying lubricating oil to the crankcase of an internal combustion engine cated near the bottom of the crankcase, an air pipe leading upwardly from the crankcase into an upper part of the interior of said reservoir above the level of oil therein, said air pipe having an open lower end located in the crankcase at a level intermediate the bottom of the crankcase and the normal level of oil in the crankcase, a suction pipe having an end adapted to be connected with the engine intake manifold and having another end, said suction pipe being connected at a point intermediate its ends with an upper part of the interior of said oil reservoir above the level of oil therein, suction-operated valve means connected in said oil-feeding pipe at a point between the reservoir and the open lower end of the feeding pipe, said valve means havinga valve element arranged to occupy a first position in which it blocks said oil-feeding pipe and precludes flow of oil through said oil-feeding pipe to the crankcase and a second position in which it unblocks said oil-feeding pipe and permits fiow of oil from the reservoir to the crankcase, suction-operated means connected to said valve element serving to maintain said valve element in said first position while the engine is not running, said operating means being operable by suction from said other end of the suction pipe to move said valve element from said first position to said second position while the engine is running to permit, flow of oil through the oil feeding pipe when the oil level in the crankcase is below the level of and exposes the open lower end of the airpipe and air is permitted to enter the upper part of the reservoir from said air pipe to relieve the manifold suction in the reservoir above the oil therein.

2. In a device for supplying lubricating oil to the crankcase of an internal combustion engine having a suction manifold whenever the level of the oil in the crankcase subsides below a predetermined level while the engine is running, a closed oil reservoir supported above the crankcase, a gravity feed pipe leading downwardly from a lower part of the reservoir into the crankcase; said feed pipe having an open lower end located near the bottom of the crankcase, an air pipe leading upwardly from the crankcase into an upper part of the interior of said reservoir above the level of oil therein, said air pipe, having an open lower end located in the crankcase at a level intermediate the bottom of the crankcase and the normal level of oil in the crankcase, a suction pipe having an end adapted to be connected with the engine intake manifold and having another end, said suction pipe being connected at a point intermediate its ends with an upper part of the interior of said oil reservoir having a suction manifold whenever the level of I the oil in the crankcase subsides below a predev termined level while the engine is running, a closed oil reservoir supported above the crankcase, a gravity feed pipe leading downwardly bove the level of oil therein, suction-operated valve means connected in said oil-feeding pipe at a point between the reservoir and the open lower end of the feeding pipe, said valve means having a valve element arranged to occupy a first position in which it blocks said oil-feeding pipe and precludes fiow of oil through said oil-feeding pipe to the crankcase and a second position in which it unblocks said oil-feeding pipe and permits flow of oil from the reservoir to the crankcase, suction-operated means connected to said valve element serving to maintain said valve element in said first position while the engine is not running, said operating means being operable by suction from said other end of the suction pipe tomove said valve element from said first position to said second position while the engine is running to permit the flow of oil through the oil feeding pipe when the oil level in the crankcase is below the level of and exposes the open lower end of the air pipe and air is permitted to enter the upper part of the reservoir from said air pipe to relieve the manifold suction in the reservoir above the oil therein, an air flow reducing jet connecting said suction pipe to the upper part of the reservoir and serving to limit withdrawal of air from said reservoir by suction from said suction pipe to an amount less than that capable of entering the upper part of the reservoir through said air pipe while the oil level in the crankcase is below the open lower end of the air pipe.

3. In a device for supplying lubricating oil to the crankcase of an internal combustion engine having a suction manifold whenever the level of the oil in the crankcase subsides below a predetermined level while the engine is running, a

closed oil reservoir supported above the crankcase, a gravity feed pipe leading downwardly from a lower part of the reservoir into the crankcase, said feed pipe having an open lower end located near the bottom of the crankcase, an air pipe leading upwardly from the crankcase into an upper part of the interior of said reservoir above the level of oil therein, said air pipe having an open lower end located in the crankcase at a level intermediate the bottom of the crankcase and the normal level of oil in the crankcase, a

suction pipe having an end adapted to be connected with the engine intake manifold and having another end, said suction pipe being connected at a point intermediate its ends with an upper part of the interior of said oil reservoir above the level of oil therein, suction-operated valve means connected in said oil-feeding pipe at point between the reservoir and the open lower end of the feeding pipe, said valve means having a valve element arranged to occupy a first position in which it blocks said oil-feeding pipe and precludes flow of oil through said oil-feeding pipe to the crankcase and a second position in which it unblocks said oil-feeding pipe and permits flow of oil from the reservoir to the crankcase, suction-operated means connected to said valve element serving to maintain said valve element in said first position while the engine is not running, said operating means being operable by suction from said other end of'the suction pipe to move saidvalve element from said first posi-' tion to said second position while the engine is running to permit fiow of oil through the oil feeding pipe when the oil level in the crankcase is below the level of and exposes the open lower end of the air pipe and air is permitted to enter the upper part of the reservoir from said air pipeto relieve the manifold suction in the reservoir above the oil therein, said valve means comprising a valve body formed with a passage therethrough connected in said oil feed pipe and a valve seat intermediate the ends of said passage, said valve element consisting of a needle and said suction-operated means comprising a flexible diaphragm connected to said needle, a housing enclosing one side of said diaphragm and therewith forming a vacuum chamber with which said other end of the suction pipe is connected.

CLARENCE T. BERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,125,238 Wilburn Jan, 19, 1915 1,194,453 Wilburn Aug. 15, 1916 1,371,151 Edmunds Mar.'8, 1921 1,503,334 Norris July 29, 1924 1,594,806 Williams Aug. 3, 1926 1,812,012 Muzzy June 30, 1931 1,936,778 White Nov. 28, 1933 2,081,315 Weber May 25, 1937 

